Alert to IT Sales Experts: IT Leadership Change

Monsanto’s New Chief Information Officer

IT sales experts should be alerted to a key management change at Monsanto’s. This month, James Swanson was named Monsanto’s Chief Information Officer. Swanson is responsible for leading the IT department and serving as a member of the strategy team. While Monsanto’s IT department supports all aspects of the business, there is a particular focus on R&D. Swanson replaced Shirley Cunningham who left the company after serving for five years. Monsanto is a multinational chemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation best known for being among the first to genetically modify a plant cell. Monsanto is headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri.

Prior to joining the Monsanto team, Swanson served as Vice President of IT Global Human Health for Merck; Vice President of Global Information Solutions at Monsanto’s Pharmaceutical Research & Development; and Program Manager for SmithKline Beecham.

Focus on Mobile Technology

During his career at Merck, Swanson supported efforts to translate Merck’s mobile applications to languages other than English; giving patients in other countries easier access to solutions to manage their ailments. “Diabetes is worldwide,” said Swanson, “take China–unless you’re in a city with a high level of healthcare, it’s difficult for patients to get educated. But you can give someone a cell phone, and content can be easily distributed.” DiscoverOrg’s analysts will keep an eye out for similar projects being launched at Monsanto’s in his first 6 months.

Why Use Scoops

If you’re in IT sales and you are not using tools to alert you to these types of buying scoops, why not? This management change is just one example of the kind of signal you can use to accelerate the sales cycle – they provide golden opportunities to quickly get in front of key decision makers.

Research shows you are 10 times more likely to win the business when there is a change in decision makers. Go ahead and pluck the low lying fruit.